Melissa Nelson has been named to the new position of president, Publicis Seattle, reporting directly to Publicis Worldwide North America CEO Andrew Bruce. Nelson was named EVP and managing partner for the marquee T-Mobile business in December 2015. As president, she will continue to be the most senior lead on the business in the Seattle office.
“Melissa’s leadership on T-Mobile and her passion for their brand and business will be enriched in her new post,” shared Bruce. “Additionally, now her expertise and leadership will extend to all clients and the talented individuals who fuel our agency here in Seattle.”
In addition to T-Mobile, Publicis Seattle handles a range of clients which includes Visit Seattle, KEXP and the Special Olympics.
Immediately prior to joining Publicis Seattle, Nelson led the global Motorola business as group account director at Droga5 in New York. Her pedigree includes helping to build and manage teams creating award-winning work for Target, Chevrolet and HP. Nelson’s career also includes top account management positions at 72andSunny in Los Angeles and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners in San Francisco
Nelson stated, “Diving into and leading the T-Mobile business has been a phenomenal experience. It is an amazing brand, with a really strong POV. T-Mobile is a brand, and business, which is pivotal not only to the Seattle marketplace, but to our agency. I am proud to continue to partner with T-Mobile and additionally, to now lead, grow and expand Publicis in Seattle.”
Music Biopics Get Creative At Toronto Film Festival
Many of the expected conventions of music biopics are present in "Piece by Piece," about the producer-turned-pop star Pharrell Williams, and "Better Man," about the British singer Robbie Williams. There's the young artist's urge to break through, fallow creative periods and regrettable chapters of fame-addled excess. But there are a few, little differences. In "Piece by Piece," Pharrell is a Lego. And in "Better Man," Williams is played by a CGI monkey. If the music biopic can sometimes feel a little stale in format, these two movies, both premiering this week at the Toronto International Film Festival, attempt novel remixes. In each film, each Williams recounts his life story as a narrator. But their on-screen selves aren't movie stars who studied to get a part just right, but computer-generated animations living out real superstar fantasies. While neither Williams has much in common as a musician, neither has had a very traditional career. Their films became reflections of their individuality, and, maybe, a way to distinguish themselves in the crowded field of music biopics like "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Rocketman." "This is about being who you are, even if it's not something that can be put in a box," Pharrell said in an interview Tuesday alongside director Morgan Neville. Also next to Pharrell: A two-foot-tall Lego sculpture of himself, which was later in the day brought to the film's premiere and given its own seat in the crowd. The experience watching the crowd-pleasing "Piece by Piece," which Focus Features will release Oct. 11, can be pleasantly discombobulating. A wide spectrum of things you never expected to see in Lego form are animated. Virginia Beach (where Pharrell grew up). An album of Stevie Wonder's "Songs in the Key of Life."... Read More